The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-11-10
A CIRCULAR
From the Tennessee State Board
Of Health TO the Mayors and
Other Authorities
Of the Cities and Towns Ira the
State.

Some weeks ago circular from this
Board was sent to many OF you, asking
information regarding the means pro.
vided for protecting the health OF citi-
2ens within your borders, Answers
we're received from some OF these
from many, none. Sufficient informa-
ton was derived from those which did
respond to furnish us with some con-
ception OF the sanitary measures now
in force throughout the State, and we
now beg your attention to our attempt
at showing the merits and defects OF
those measures.
1t is inferred that, at the best, those
places from which no answer has been
received are not better regulated than
those which have taken interest
enough in the subject to respond. We
shall assume, therefore, that all may
find something in this paper demand
ing their attention.
The immediate occasion for address
ing you consists in the presence, in the
Bay of New York, of ship containing
many cases of epidemic cholera from
Italy. If the exertions of the local
sanitary authorities should fail to ex-
clude the disease from that city, there
can be no doubt but the infection will
spread throughout the United States.
We therefore deem it our duty to urge
upon you such measures as are best
calculated to diminish its ravages, if
not to prevent their occurrence with
in your ncighborhood. And we would
impress upon you the fact that, should
we be fortunate enough to escape the
visitation, such measures will not be
wasted, but go far towards rendering
you exempt from such maladies as
diphtheria, dysentery, malarious
fevers and many other scourges which
afflict the race.
Filth--anA by filth is meant any an
imal or vegetable matter in the pro-
cess uf decOmposition-tilth is the
genial soil for the growth of all infec-
tious germs but in the case OF cholera
it is more than that it furnishes the
seed as well as the soil. The one fact
which is now completely established in
reference to this disease, is that its
germs are contained in the discharges
from the stomach and bowels of chol
eraic patients and that the most effect
i've way of spreading it is by the diff
fusion of these germs in the water
used for drinking and other domestic
purposes.
The disposal OF human excrement
then, while it lis a most important prob
lem in all sanitary measures, becomes
the one paramount problem when pro
viding against cholera. Let us con
slider, then, two leading subjects, which
will form the substance OF this papel
to the exclusion OF all others.
Ist. How do the germs of cholera, al
ter being ejected from one body, fnt
their acay into organism Of fanotherP
ed. What is the most efficient metho,
Of gdrding against this transfer?
1st. Air and water are the effectiv
media and vehicles for the dispersion
OF these germs water being by far tn
most so, for this reason in air tn
germs simply live; in water they liv
and breed. 1t is in the dry state tina
the germs permeate the air, in tn
form OF dust in this condition the
may be described as in state OF sus
pended animation, incapable of tn
functions OF active life until they ar
again moisted. These functions ar
infection and reproduction. In wa
ter, especially in filthy water, they ar
propagated by millions, so that if
pond, puddle or cistern once receive
asingle germ, it rapidly becomes sa
urated with millions upon millions {
its offspring.
This is what takes place when tn
discharges from choleraic patier
are carelessly thrown out into
backyard or privy. The germs i
for awhile on the earth il it is dr
they are soon waited into the air {
dust, capable of being inhaled by hi
man lungs; if wet, breeding con
mences, and the germs penetrate wit
the surface water into drains, spring
ponds, etc, seeping through the wal
of cistefns and wells, and are so in
bibed by those who drink from then
or draining into rivers carry infectic
into distant communities. 1t may
readily seen how railroads ha,
contributed to the spread ofinfection
Choleraic patients are received {
board, or men are attacked with che
era while on board, and their excr
@ments dropped along the road eve
such deposit becoming possible ce
ter of infection. Steamboats, in Il
same manner communicate direct i
lection to our water courses, and
has always been found that epidemi
of this class follow the lines OF ra
roads and water courses.